Sharing Women's Stories
On a cold, December evening in 2016, I was driving home from work half-listening to a podcast and half zoning out, when the host asked a question that jarred me back. “What’s it like to be a man today?”
It was at that moment when I thought I had accidentally been listening to a podcast meant for guys. I quickly scanned through my mind trying to remember if, in the two months that I had been listening to this podcast, I had ever heard a female voice. I couldn’t remember a single one. Shoot!, I thought, I’ve been listening to a guys podcast all along!
Turns out, I was wrong.
Later that evening, I Googled the website for that podcast (it is a very popular podcast) and I looked through the guest list. When I scrolled down the page, I started to see some episodes with women, but the ratio was about 33 men to 9 women.
I went on Twitter and reached out to the host. I asked, “Where are all the inspiring women?” He sounded genuinely shocked. He said, “What do you mean?!” And tagged all 9 of his female guests in the post.
I think he missed the point.
I let it go, but I couldn’t forget about the lopsided ratio of male to female guests. I began to question why we don’t hear more stories from women? I personally know so many amazing women in my own life. Why aren’t their stories told?
That is how the Women Who Succeed podcast started.
Our goal was to share the stories of women’s unique journeys. Women’s stories tend to be different from men’s stories. Women frequently end up making career decisions based on what will work best for their families - sometimes that involves moving or searching for better childcare, other times it may be accepting a different job with hours more conducive to family life. Although our society has made progress in this area, women still tend to walk the tightrope trying to find the right balance between work and family that works for their situation.
Women also tend to share credit for their achievements with others. As a woman, I understand this and I think it’s a beautiful thing to acknowledge the people in our lives who have contributed to our journeys, but it’s also important for each of us to own our achievements.
Women’s stories frequently include a quest for a higher purpose. They want to do meaningful work that helps others and makes a difference. Of course, they want to earn money as well (we are human after all!), but that rarely seems to be their primary motivator.
Women frequently return back to their ‘why’, which is why I’m writing this post.
Why did we start this podcast?
To put the spotlight on all that women do for the people around them and their communities.
To learn from the challenges that other women have through.
To give women a voice.
To let women be heard.
It’s been an honor and a pleasure for us over the past three years to have interviewed so many awesome women and we’re looking forward to hearing and sharing so many more stories going forward!